Reinforcing support incorporated into a glove box retaining structure located proximate a pivot actuating handle mechanism

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

00011. Field of the Invention

0002The present invention relates generally to a pivotally openable glove box incorporating a configured face constructed of vibration welded dual inner and outer panel layers. More specifically, the present invention teaches the incorporation of reinforcing supports located proximate selected vibration welded locations established between structural support ribs associated with inner and outer panels. The weld positions are proximate to a pivotally actuated exterior handle mechanism for unlatching the welded panel layers from locked engagement within an associated vehicle dashboard structure, thus permitting a connected bin portion to pivot outwardly to an exposed and open position.

00032. Description of the Prior Art

0004A conventional vehicle glove box typically includes a three-dimensionally configured and volume-holding bin capable of being pivotally opened and closed relative to a face of a vehicle dashboard. A semi-planar and arcuately configured face portion is secured to forward locations of the bin and typically includes a fixed inner panel and a vibrationally welded outer panel.

0005Examples of vibrationally welded articles include the vehicle compartment cover disclosed in DE 19810156 and which discloses curved inner and outer parts bonded together by vibrational welding. Of note, the inner part has a welding rib facing towards the outer part, the outer part correspondingly including a further rib to prevent collapse of the welding rib during the vibration welding process. Other examples of vibrationally welded articles are further shown in Japanese Patent Publications No. 08-230041, entitled resin molded product, JP 2005-001559, entitled glove lid, and JP 62-284729, entitled vibratory welding process.

0006A problem associated with such vibration welded inner and outer faces concerns the welds located proximate to the mounting location of the unlatching handle. In use, repetitive unlatching rotation and/or “slamming shut” rotation of the exterior face of the glove box, such as by the user grasping the handle, tends to result in the vibrational welds in the region of the handle being broken or otherwise damaged, this further resulting in undesirable looseness or over-rotation of the handle and potential inoperability of the glove box locking mechanism.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

0007The present invention is a pivotally openable glove box incorporating vibration welded dual inner and outer panel layers. More specifically, the present invention teaches the incorporation of reinforcing supports, e.g. tab-shaped portions, associated with selected vibration welded locations established between grid-shaped rib supports associated with inner and outer panels located proximate to a mounting location of a pivotally actuated exterior handle mechanism.

0008The reinforcing supports provide lateral deflecting support at associated vibration welded contact locations associated with the inner and outer panel layers. The support construction, configured as spaced apart pairs of tab-shaped members integrally molded with the rib structure associated with the inner panel, locates and supports therebetween one or more inwardly contacting edges of structural rib supports associated with the outer panel.

0009In this fashion, the support structure prevents breakage or damage to the contact locations during unlatching or reclosing (slamming shut) of the welded panel layers within the associated vehicle dashboard structure, thus maintaining the mechanical and tactile structural feel and integrity of the graspable latching mechanism associated with the glove box.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0010Reference will now be made to the attached drawings, when read in combination with the following detailed description, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

0011<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a perspective view of a glove box face and attached bin, and into which is incorporating the handle over-open support ribs according to the present invention;

0012<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a rotated and modified perspective of the glove box structure illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, in which the outer fascia panel is removed and in order to illustrate the arrangement of reinforcing ribs; and

0013<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a cutaway view taken along line <b>3</b>-<b>3</b> of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> and showing rotating handle mechanism in relation to the over-open support ribs and in particular their locating and reinforcing support relative to the inwardly contacting edges of structural supports associated with the outer panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

0014Referring now to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, a glove box construction is generally referenced at <b>10</b> according to the present invention. The glove box includes a three-dimensional, and typically three sided and open top volume-holding bin <b>12</b> which is constructed of such as an injection molded plastic. The bin <b>12</b> may further include side projecting supports, see at <b>14</b> in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> and at <b>16</b> in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, and which establish stop locations upon engaging opposing locations of the vehicle dash structure (not shown) upon the bin <b>12</b> being pivotally actuated outwardly from a recessed and latched arrangement within the dashboard.

0015An inner panel <b>18</b> secures against locations associated with a forward edge of the bin <b>12</b>. As with the bin <b>12</b>, the inner panel <b>18</b> is typically constructed of a plasticized material formed in an injection molding process and such that the panel <b>18</b> exhibits a specified length, width and thickness generally corresponding to a desired opening in the vehicle dashboard (again not shown).

0016As best shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, the injection-molded construction of the inner panel <b>18</b> is such that it includes a grid-shaped array of horizontal <b>20</b>, <b>22</b>, <b>24</b>, et seq., and interconnected vertical <b>26</b>, <b>28</b>, <b>30</b>, et seq. interconnected supports, or ribs, formed in a latticework pattern and at designated locations across the exposed surface area of the inner panel <b>18</b>. The arrangement, location thickness and construction of the support ribs is selected according to a number of varying considerations, among which are contemplated “crashworthiness” parameters associated with the engineered design of the inner panel <b>18</b>. Along these lines, the horizontal and/or vertical ribs may be removed from certain areas associated with the inner panel <b>18</b> or alternatively, may be shaped or contoured to exhibit either more or less inward (crash) resisting support based upon the desired parameters of the design.

0017Selected contact locations are established within intersecting web locations associated with the horizontally and vertically arrayed ribs defining the support structure of the inner panel. These locations define vibratory weld contact points for securing corresponding inwardly directed rib supports of an outer panel, and as will be subsequently described. The contact locations are further typically defined by collar shaped portions, see at <b>32</b>, <b>34</b>, <b>36</b> et seq. as again shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, and which are defined within said exposed web locations of said inner panel.

0018Also illustrated at <b>38</b> &amp; <b>40</b> and <b>42</b> &amp; <b>44</b>, respectively, are pairs of tab-shaped projections formed in spaced apart fashion upon the exposed face of the inner panel <b>18</b>. As illustrated, the pairs of tab-shaped projections <b>38</b> &amp; <b>40</b> and <b>42</b> &amp; <b>44</b> are formed in vertically aligned and horizontally spaced fashion upon an open faced region <b>46</b> of the inner panel <b>18</b> face, this devoid of any supporting ribs.

0019The projections <b>38</b> &amp; <b>40</b> and <b>42</b> &amp; <b>44</b> are formed during the injection molding process for creating the inner panel <b>18</b>, each pair defining an inwardly contoured and opposing gap location, see at <b>48</b> and <b>50</b> for each pair of projections <b>38</b> &amp; <b>40</b> and <b>42</b> &amp; <b>44</b>, respectively. As shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, the inner panel <b>18</b> further includes hinge support structure, see at <b>52</b> and <b>54</b>, extending lengthwise along a lower surface thereof, and which is adapted to secure the assembled glove box <b>10</b> in pivoting fashion within the vehicle dashboard (again not shown).

0020An outer panel <b>56</b> substantially matches the inner panel <b>18</b> in overall configuration, including such as a similar length, width, thickness and arcuate side profile to create in sandwiching cooperation a face covering for the glove box and which establishes a flush surface relative to the vehicle dashboard. The outer panel <b>56</b> is likewise created from an injection molded process and also includes a curved perimeter extending edge, see as shown at <b>57</b> in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1 and 3</figref>, and which creates a flush and smooth edge when secured (such as vibration welding) to the inner panel <b>18</b>.

0021As with the inner panel <b>18</b>, the outer panel <b>56</b> includes a plurality of support ribs, see as shown by example at <b>58</b>, <b>60</b>, <b>62</b>, et seq., in the cutaway view of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>. The support ribs each include inwardly projecting edges which contact locations along the inner panel <b>18</b> (such as for example defined by the collars <b>32</b>, <b>34</b>, <b>36</b>, et seq.) and which facilitate the vibration welding of the outer panel <b>56</b> to the inner panel <b>18</b> as shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>.

0022Although not clearly shown, it is understood that the support/rib pattern of the outer panel <b>56</b> may exhibit either or both horizontally and vertically extending rib supports, such as referenced in relation to the inner support panel <b>18</b>. Alternatively, the inwardly facing surface of the outer panel <b>56</b> may include some alternate arrangement of rib supports, and in order to provide desired design characteristics to the outer panel <b>56</b>, including again crashworthiness characteristics complementing the design parameters established by the inner panel <b>18</b>.

0023A handle mechanism, see as generally referenced at <b>64</b>, is secured to an exposed, typically fascia or decorative covered, face of the outer panel <b>56</b>. The handle mechanism <b>64</b> is typically mounted within a localized recessed portion <b>66</b> of the outer panel <b>56</b>. As illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, at least one fastener <b>68</b> inserts through an inside surface of the outer panel <b>56</b>, and in order to engage a support <b>70</b> associated with the handle mechanism.

0024The handle mechanism <b>64</b> further includes a rotating lever <b>72</b> biasingly secured to the support <b>70</b> (such as by a spring or other suitable biasing component not shown). An angled projection <b>74</b> is defined in extending fashion from an end of the lever <b>72</b>, and such as to be arrayed in opposite fashion with regards to a main grasping portion of the lever. A stop portion <b>76</b> projects outwardly from a location associated with the support <b>70</b> and, upon pivoting the lever <b>72</b> from its position illustrated in phantom at <b>72</b>′, defines a substantially unlatching condition associated with the handle.

0025The inwardly angled support rib <b>58</b>, again associated with the outer panel <b>56</b>, is located proximate to the exterior mounting location of the handle assembly <b>64</b>. As previously described, repetitive unlatching rotation and/or “slamming shut” rotation, such as by the user grasping the handle, tends to result in the vibrational welds in the region of the handle (see again illustrated weld contact by angled support rib <b>58</b> contacting the inner panel surface) being broken or otherwise damaged, this further resulting in undesirable looseness or over-rotation of the handle and potential inoperability of the glove box locking mechanism.

0026As referenced in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, the positioning of the pairs <b>38</b> &amp; <b>40</b> and <b>42</b> &amp; <b>44</b> of support tabs prevents breakage of the weld established between the inwardly angled support rib <b>58</b> and the associated contact location of the inner panel <b>18</b>. As shown, the inwardly contoured and opposing gap locations, again at <b>48</b> and <b>50</b>, seat therebetween the contacting edge of the lengthwise extending rib <b>58</b> (or pair of segmented ribs as may be also contemplated).

0027This prevents undesirable rotation of the rib <b>58</b> and resultant breakage, due again to the forces of physics imparted upon the vibrational weld connections due to rotational opening and/or slamming shut of the glove box. In this manner, actuation of the handle lever <b>72</b> does not result in over-rotation (indicative of a localized weld fracture), and with resultant loss of tactile “feel” of integrity.

0028Having described our invention, other additional preferred embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains, and without deviating from the scope of the appended claims: